Brine-tank evaporation unit



Nov. 11, 1930. J. KARMAZIN BRINE TANK EVAPORATION UNIT Filed June 1 1928 5 Sh eets-'-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Nov. 11, 1930. J. KARMAZIN BRINE TANKEVAPORATION UNIT I Filed June 1, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Nov. 11, 1930. KARMAZlN 1,780,930

BRINE TANK EVAPORATION UNIT Filed June 1, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 11, .1930

UNITED STATES JOHN KARMAZIN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN BRINE-TANK EVAPORATION UNIT Application filed June 1,

This invention relates to improvements in heat exchange devices and is in particular an improvement in construction of a brine tank evaporation unit. It contemplates the construction of such a unit by means suitably I plicity of individual operations. Such units are inefiicient inasmuch as the heat transfer is Very slow and there is no close relation between the refrigerant and the brine and the refrigerant and ice tray compartments. Such units are also extremely large requiring a large refrigerating chamber and they materially increase the cost of a refrigerator as well as increase the operating expense.

It is the principal object of this invention to construct a refrigerating unit for brine tank evaporation which may be made from pressed metal trays having integral fin and tube projections thereon, permitting the telescoping of a plurality of trays for a single unit.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved refrigerating unit comprising a plurality of inter-connected fin and tube type projections or trays to increase the heat exchange efficiency thereof.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a brine tank evaporation unit which is extremely rigid and strong and which may be formed of standard pressed sections telescoped together which may be enlarged or reduced in size by adding or withdrawing more units andin which the heat transfer is augmented by the inter-relation of the refrigerant tubes and the brine tubes.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a double tube construction of pressed metal fin and tube type elements whereby one set of tubes will conduct one and the other tubes will conduct another Serial No. 282,231.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will, appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings illustrating preferred forms of embodimentvthereof, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a brine tank evaporation unit partially broken away to show the internal construction thereof and intended for use in a household refrigerating system;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the unit shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a modified form of evaporation unit; and

. Figure 5 is a vertical section substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4.

The brine tank evaporation unit 10 shown in Fig. 1 is of rectangular shape and composed of a plurality of identical telescoped trays 11 suitably stamped and punched from sheet metal. Centrally stamped in the bottom' 11 therein is the enlarged openings or compartments 12 adapted to receive the usual ice pans (not shown). Surrounding the central portion on the tray bottom 11 is a double row-of perforations or holes 14 and 16. The openings 1 1 are flanged for the tubes 14 and the openings 16 are closely adjacent thereto. The tray 11 is further provided with upstanding side portions 11 and outwardly project ing flanges 11.

The construction of the unit 10 is better shown in Fig. 3 which shows a plurality of these telescoped trays 11 all of which are substantially similar to each other with the exception of the front section 20 which is a substantially flat closure or cover sheet only provided with openings for the compartments 12 and the rear section 22 which is a tray similar to the trays 11 but has an imperforate bottom. These trays 11 are partially shown in cross section in Fig. 2.

The tubes 14 are the so-called evaporating tub s through which the expanded refrigerant is adapted to flow to .take up the heat from the brinewhich flows through openings 16 in the trays 11 and from the ice in the pans (not show the c mpa en s 1%. Th s in my Patent No. 1,591,323, dated July 6,

1926, and telescoping the elements together to form a tube.

The rows ofrefrigerant tubes 14 are connected by means of U bends 26 to form a complete circuit. A T 28 at the bottom of the unit connect-s the right and left hand sections of the tubes 14 with the suction line connection 30 at the rear of the unit to draw the refrigerant into the compressor (not shown). The expansion valve 32 which may be of any desired type is connected by the T 34 in the upper front portion of the unit and is similarly connected in-the circuit to introduce the refrigerant from the compressor into the expansion tubes or coils 14. It will thus be seen that the refrigerant is connected into the expansion valve 32 through which it may expand into a closed circuit to the right and left of the front of the unit and extending circuitously through the unit from back to front and from top to bottom and the refrigerant is then conducted through the T 28 in the rear to the suction outlet 30. Inasmuch as the tubes 14 in this circuit are all provided with the integral fin and tubular projections, a plurality of fins extend from the tubes and permit an extremely rapid heat-transfer from the v brine in the compartment 24 and fromthe ice compartments 12. The telescoping-construction of the trays 11 and tubes 14 permits the ready assembly of the unit, it being under stood that all the tubes 14 in a single row are formed on a single sheet by the process disclosed in the above-mentioned patent. It is.

also to be noted that the projections 14 on each of the trays 11 supports, centers and guides the projection forming the tube 14 to insure the rigidity neoessary in such a structure.

A plug and opening 36 is provided, opening into the compartment 24 into which the brine is placed, to surround the expansion tubes 14. The compartment 24 in effect is a closed chamber as the compartments 12 are provided with sleeves 38 which are soldered to the opening in the bottoms 11 of the trays 11, and the con struction is such that after the brine is placed in this compartment 24, the compartment is sealed and the brine'acts as an eificient heattransferring medium. The flanges 11 and the bottoms 11 on the elements 11 and the fins 14 on the refrigerant tubes 14 permit a rapid exchange of heat from both the ice tray compartments 12 and from the outside of the unit.

The assembly of this unit requires a plurality of similar individual trays 11 suitably formed and a plurality of rows of integral fin and tubular projection elements 14 also exactly similar one to the other. The first tray 11 will receive the projections 14 of the first element 14 projected through the openings 14 and the proper number of elements 14 will then be stacked in telescopedrelation thereon. The second tray 11, also having an element 14 with its projections 14 projected through the openings 14 to form a reinforcement, will then cooperate with the last element 14 in the first stack and, by applying the necessary pressure, the row of elements 14 and the first and second trays 11 will be telescoped together. This forms three sides of the compartments 24 and completes an entire row of tubes 14 between the first and second trays 11. Subsequent trays are simi larly telescoped together with a plurality of the integral fin and tube type elements in the intermediate space between the tray bottoms 11 When all'the elements are so compacted, the unit may desirably be dipped in molten solder to seal all the joints. Subsequently the sleeves 38, forming the interior of the ice pan compartments 12, .will be soldered in place and by being secured to the individual trays 11, the closing side of the compartment 24 is formed. It will also be noted that suitable supports are provided for the tubes and that a very rigid structure is formed.

A slightly modified form of the device is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in which a plurality of ice tray compartments 50 are formed. Surrounding these compartments is a circuit of refrigerating tubes 52 which areconnected by suitable U bends 54 to form a circuit down one side and up the other.. The connections to the expansion valve and to the suction outlet are not shown .as they are similar to the connections shown. in Figures 1 and 3. In this form of thedevice, the elements 56 are suitably drawn and the bottom 58 punched to form the openings 56 for receiving the tube elements 52 and at suitable intervals across the faceof the bottoms 58 bars 60 are formed by depressing portions of the bottoms into U-shape forming a shelf or'ledge for receiving the ice pan sleeves. These bars 60 formthe spacing members between the ice tray compartments 50 and permit circulation of air therebetween. As described in the preceding form of the device, the necessary refrigerant, tubes 52 are formed 'by telescoped integral fin and tube type elements 52 and these elements are advantageously of a length suflicient to extend from the top to the bottom in the unit.

In the assembly'of this form of the device,

J ment to form a reinforced headeradjacent the element 56. Subsequent elements 5:2 are telescoped in the usual manner upon the tubes of the preceding element to fill in the space between the elements 56 and to form the tubes 52. At each element 56 a similar reinforcement is made which materially increases the strength of the device, insures suflic'ient support for the tubes and prevents endwise movement thereof. It will be understood that the tubes are so formed from end to end of the unit and, by any desired manner, are so connected as to form a continuous conduit for refrigerant around the ice tray compartments.

In this form of the device no provision has been made for brine circulation and the refrigerant tubes are exposed on the outside to circulation of air in the refrigerator and on the inside take the heat from the water contained in the ice trays to freeze the water in the usual manner. This is possible in smaller units or where the principal object is to freeze ice rather than to provide a large cooling surface, as described in the preceding form.

The principal features of this device are that the unit is an assembly of punchings each section of which is a continuous piece of metal. In the formation, the boss is drawn forming the external fin and the section of the side wall of the unit. The holes for the evaporating tubes and brine circulation and the openings for the ice tray compartments are subsequently punched and, in the latter operation, the double bar is formed to sufliciently space the ice pans and to form a reinforcing element across the unit. It is also obvious that the front or foremost element is not drawn or punched inasmuch as no tubes extend through it and that the end or last unit is not perforated at the bottom. After the element has been properly assembled, it is dipped in solder and a unitary structure results.

The conditions for heat transfer in such a unit are ideal because the elements 56 have external fins to transfer the heat from the air on the outside and the evaporating tubes are also provided with integral fins for .most ideal heat transfer within the unit. A continuous metallic wall is provided between the air and the refrigerant and from the ice pan compartment to the refrigerant. It is also possible to make these units of any length inasmuch as it is only necessary to assemble a greater number of similar elements. After once being assembled and soldered, there is nothing that can, get out of order and depending on the nature of the refrigerant used, the units may be made of copper, brass,

steel or other preferred non-corroding metals. The only connections are for the pressure in let and the suction outlet and these connections may be of the typical pipe thread. It is also obvious that these units having a much higher heat efliciency may be made considerably smaller than the similar heretofore known units and it is also obvious that they may be made with any number of ice tray compartments and of any shape, either round, square, or otherwise, and it is only necessary that the" expansion tubes be in close proximity to the ice tray compartments in order that ice may be formed with the greatest rapidity. The use of the brine increases the heat cffectiveness of the unit inasmuch as it is a greater body of liquid to be heated. This permits a more uniform heat exchange.

It is also obvious that although it is preferable to use the typical integral fin and tube type elements which are readily telescoped and which are most conveniently made by the process disclosed in my heretofore issued patent it is still within the scope of the invention to use a tube continuous from end to end of the unit and on which suitable fins may be secured in any desired manner. Such a construction would have the same features of rapid heat transfer. I

\Vhile I have shown preferred forms of embodiment of the device, it is-understood that other modifications may be made therein and Itherefore desire a broad interpretation of the invention in accordance wit-h the description hereinbefore and the claims appended hereinafter.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerating unit of the class described, a plurality of tray elements having bosses thereon, said elements adapted to telescope to form a complete unit, internal sleeves cooperating with said bosses to form compartments in said elements and means forming a. continuous passage in said compartments.

2. In a refrigerating unit of the class described, a plurality of tray elements having bosses thereon, said elements adapted to telescope to form a complete unit, internal sleeves cooperating with the interior of the said bosses to form compartments in said elements and fin and tube members forming a continuous passage in said compartments.

3. In a refrigerating unit, a plurality of telescoped tray elements, enclosing compartments for brinecirculation and a plurality of telescoped integral fin and tube elements forming a passage in said compartments, said passage adapted to receive a refrigerant.

4. A telescoping tray element for brine tank evaporating units having perforations therein, additional perforations having projecting bosses thereon, and a central opening adapted to form a compartme t in said element.

tray elements the center 5. A refrigerating unit of the class deconduit passing through the trays adjacent scribed com risin a lurality of stamped the peripheral portions thereof.

p g p In testimony whereof I have aflixed my tray elements,the center portions of which are punched out to provide openings, said elements being adapted to be telescoped in adjacent elements, and sleeves adapted to cooperate with the center portions to provide closed compartments surrounding the sleeves for the circulation of brine.

6. A refrigerating unit of the class described, comprising a plurality of stamped ortions of which are punched out to provide openings, said elements being. adapted to be telescoped in adjacent elements, sleeves adapted to cooperate with the center portions to provide closed compartments surrounding the sleeves for the circulation of brine, and an expansion coil in-said compartments formed of nested integral fin and tube elements.

7. A refrigerating unit of the class described comprised of a plurality of telescoped stamped plate elements, perforated to receive a plurality-of integral finand tube type elements also adapted to be telescoped to form continuous tubes through the unit.

8. An element for a brine tank evaporating unit comprising a tray having a depressed bottom with a plurality of enlarged central openings separated by reinforcing bars, and

openings on each side of said central open signature to this sp ings, and a conduit comprising fin elements and telescoping projections received in the last'narned openings.

9. In a refrigerating unit, an ice making compartment formed by av plurality of integral fin and tube tray elements telescoped.

together, and an expansion coil in said'unit around said compartment, said coil formed of a plurality of integral fin and tube elements telescoped together.

10. In a refrigerating unit, a closed brine compartment formed by a plurality of tray elements telescoped together and surrounding an ice making compartment, and an expansion coil in said brine compartment composed of tube members formed of inte al fin and tube elements telescoped together and projecting through the bottoms of said trays.

11. In a refrigerating unit, the combination of a plurality of tray elements telescoping together, each of said tray elements having one or more openings, each opening .of one element being in alignment with the openings of the others, a sleeve passing through each row of aligned openings, each of said elements have a peripheral compartment and a conduit extending substantially through all portions of said peripheral compartments in said elements.

12. In a refrigerating unit, the combination of a plurality of tray elements telescoping together, each of saidelements hav;

ing one or more openings, and a continuous ecification. 

